Northampton neighbors to discuss suspicious fires

NORTHAMPTON - While residents in the Hawley Street area remain on edge after recent fires in their neighborhood, a forum planned for Tuesday night will seek to allay their fears.

Beginning at 7 p.m. in the Bridge Street School library, the session is organized by Ward 3 City Councilor Robert Reckman and the ward's neighborhood group.

Apartment fire: Meadowbrook tenants, Northampton fire department at odds over response

NORTHAMPTON - It's been seven months since fire destroyed the homes of 22 Meadowbrook Apartments residents, and for some, anger over the event smolders. Tuesday, four fire victims and former city councilor Mike Kirby voiced their grievances with the Northampton Fire Department and Meadowbrook management in a meeting of the City Council's Committee on Public Safety that also drew about a dozen members of the Fire Department. And the session was tense at times, as tenants complained and firefighters shot back with testimony of their own.
--See a package of video reports from the day of the Meadowbrook fire and its aftermath

Carbon monoxide calls spur warning

NORTHAMPTON - Fire officials are calling on residents to be careful with heating appliances after firefighters here responded to two carbon monoxide-related calls Tuesday night.

Neighbors help douse Northampton fire; officials investigate

NORTHAMPTON - The state fire marshal, local firefighters and police are investigating a fire that damaged the porch of an apartment building, causing an estimated $75,000 in damage at 11 Hancock St. early Tuesday. No one was hurt.

Duggan gets 5 more years

NORTHAMPTON - Mayor Clare Higgins re-appointed Fire Chief Brian P. Duggan to another five-year term nine months before his current contract was set to expire.

"The goal was to keep him another five years," Higgins said, when asked of the timing of the re-appointment.

Fire damages South Hadley home, injures owner

SOUTH HADLEY - A Tampa Street man and his daughter were taken by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a fire broke out on the porch of their home Wednesday.

Truck hits pole, causing power line to spark fire

WESTHAMPTON - A man who lost control of his truck and struck a utility pole on Loudville Road early Saturday afternoon was trapped inside his vehicle with his two children for 30 minutes while they waited for the utility company to turn off the electricity to the power lines.